Developing Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit - I

Many times in Scripture the Holy Spirit is likened to a dove. (Notice, I said likened).The reason for this is that the dove is a very sensitive bird. If we are to have a close walk with the Holy Spirit, we need to understand His sensitive nature.

Then she (Delilah) cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him. (Judges 16:20)

This is probably one of the most saddest portions of scripture where a person so mightily used for God took God’s presence for granted and never really cared about what pleased the Lord and what did not. Samson’s greatest mistake was, he never cared to understand the sensitive nature of the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, I prophesy this will never be our portion.

Do you know that the Holy Spirit can be lied to?

The Bible records that Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit.

Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. (Acts 5:3 NLT)

You can lie only to a person and not a force.

The case of Ananias and Sapphira illustrates the sad fact that even Christians can be led into bold, flagrant sin. It was Satan that had filled their hearts to lie in this way (Acts 5:3) and “to test the Spirit of the Lord” (verse 9).

The Holy Spirit can also be resisted

Stephen told the Sanhedrin that they were disobeying the Holy Spirit by resisting Him:

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. (Acts 7:51)

The Holy Spirit can be blasphemed

Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit could be blasphemed:

Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy (every evil, abusive, injurious speaking, or indignity against sacred things) can be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the [Holy] Spirit shall not and cannot be forgiven.

And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Spirit, the Holy One, will not be forgiven, either in this world and age or in the world and age to come. (Matthew 12:31-32 Amplified)

The Holy Spirit is always at your side but He will never force Himself upon you due to His sensitive and gentle nature. He must be invited into all you do. He must have free course to do His work alone.

Many years ago, Henry Ford the famous founder of the Ford motor company was driving down a highway. He noticed that a car had pulled off the road, and its driver was attempting to repair it. Henry Ford pulled his car and asked the driver if he could help him. The driver, in anger, said "Old man, there's not anything that you can do that I can't do. You go your way; I'll take care of this myself."

Very gently, Henry Ford got back in his car and drove off. Little did that the man whose car needed repair realize that he had turned down the maker of the car! Certainly, the maker could repair it.

So many opportunities are lost because as Christians we do not recognize what (or when) the Holy Spirit is speaking to us to do certain things. Simply put, we are not sensitive enough to His voice and presence.